U.S. CongressAs Representative from the First District of Illinois, Ralph fought for progress on many fronts in the U.S. House of Representatives. He co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, upgraded many bad military discharges and held the nation’s first congressional hearings on the misuse of police authority.Congressman Metcalfe liberated Chicago’s black electorate from plantation politics. He opposed re-slating Panther murderer Edward V. Hanrahan in 1972. When his efforts proved unsuccessful, the lead an unprecedented ticket-splitting movement that elected Republican Bernard Carey as State's Attorney. In 1976, he became the only person to win a major election against the Chicago Machine.As chairman of the House Sub-Committee on the Panama Canal, the congressman played a crucial role by holding 15 hearings, in Washington and in Panama, to give voice to all parties concerned with ongoing treaty negotiations.He introduced a Resolution in Congress to turn Negro History Week into Black History Month in 1977. In 1978, tribal elders made Ralph an honorary chief in Senegal.